Computer addiction Term paper

Computer addiction

Introduction

Technology today has indeed made people’s lives convenient especial with a computer. It has helped students in making homework, research, and projects, it has helped business in advertising and in making progress, and it has connect loved ones to people who live in a different country with the help of the internet.

The goal of this term paper is to aware the risks to users from leading to computer addiction.

I. People that are addicted to computers

This addiction is difficult to use in one term. It usually depends upon the users’ interests and activities on the computer. On netaddiction.com says that there are five types, first is the Cyber sexual which is engaged in pornography, internet sex or anything that sexually involves online. Second is the Cyber-Relational which is obsessed in chatting, IM’s, or any social relationship networks. Third is the Net Compulsion which does impulsive buying online like on e Bay, casino gambling online and online gaming. Forth is the Information Overload which surfs the net and gathers many info on news, celebrity gossip, and organizing data, which is too much that not all of the information can be used. And lastly is the Computer Addict, simple games such as minesweeper and solitaire can even lead to this addiction. Research has found that computer gaming has become problematic in organizational settings such as employees, workers spent days playing rather than working.

This is an addiction to computer use is a dependency on computers. Due to the users’ dependency towards computers, these users way of thinking revolves around computers.

II. Habits of a computer addict

A person of this addiction has habits that other people should know about. Warningsigns.info has spotted out these habits. First is the loss of control which the user cannot limit the time usage on the computer or cannot keep track of time. Second is being dishonest to others or one’s self about the computer usage or addiction towards it. Third is having harmful results being used over the computer or having negative consequences. Forth is having improper behavior when on the computer because the user can be remained anonymous in a computer like in the internet. Fifth are having misplaced priorities because of the computer usage, priorities can be left out and as a result the user may cram or may not even finish the important priorities. Sixth is despair, promising others or ones’ self not to use the computer but fails. Seventh is Fixation which daydreams all about computers and thinks of strategies in how or what to do next in a PC game. Eighth is Escapism which thinks of the next opportunity to use a computer and if the user cannot find a next opportunity to use a computer, the user will find a way and any way possible, just to user a computer. Ninth is in excessive spending, in internet shopping, buying things has been made easier but impulsive buyers should not use the net to buy things, as a result the buyer cannot always keep track of money that the users have and can also put them in dept because of buying too much, or it can also be a result in online gambling or in online games which most of the best games should be loaded with a prepaid card or by online paying.

III. Risks of being a computer addict

Like all other addictions, overusing the computer can also have its’ risks. By Recoveryissexy.com and Orzack has identified most of the symptoms, mainly Sustenance abuse has been found over half of the users like drugs, smoking and sex, they may result in dependencies in many other things. Next are mental illnesses like in relationship problems, depression, and anxiety – related disorders which the users use the internet to psychologically escape unpleasant feelings of stressful situations. Relationship troubles or it is hard to talk with a person with this addiction, they cannot deal with relationships. Seventy-five percent in cases, users are more confident in establishing relationships in chat rooms, IMs or in online gaming than in real life. And whether a student or a professional the users have problems in keeping up grades or in meeting deadlines. Homework and assignments are neglected by a student and workers may not go to work or may have many unfinished business to do. There are also physical risks that users should be aware of, first is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, this is because the user overuses the mouse or controller. It would swell and irritate around the area of the wrist which houses the main nerve and tendon. Next are the sleeping disturbances that can involve Insomnia, night terrors, parasomnia (this is Orzack survey on the computer addicts sleep walking, sleep talking and night mares), nocturnal myoclonus (periodic arm or leg jerks) and the likes. These are caused by the over stimulation of the game and thinking mostly of the gamer (video-game-addiction.org). As a result, sleeping patterns of the user may change. Dry eyes can also result in this. Using the computer for more than two to three hours straight can really damage the eyes (answerbag.com). Some users may have been using eyeglasses because they did not let their eyes rest for a while. Users may have even been on the computer nonstop. If in a chair that is too high or too low or even slouching in the chair, improper posture in sitting in a chair for many hours can cause back aches to the user. Eating irregularities is also one of these, because the user is so absorbed and is unaware of the time, meals are skipped. Lastly personal hygiene will be neglected by the user and others living with the user may avoid them.

IV. Treatments to computer addiction

There are also treatments to this addiction but the cure cannot be measured in the time needed to be accomplished. It can only depend upon the user, or of the addiction is stronger than other users, it may take longer. Self-treatment can help, by controlling their mind to just think positively, have a strong willing mind and think that they vital in overcoming the addiction (beatingaddictions.co.uk). No matter what the influences are, the user is the only one that can change this. Family and friends can help in the treatment and help the user by encouraging them that the user can have a better life than just staying in the room for many hours, letting the user think that there are many things that they can accomplish. If it cannot be helped medical treatment can be of aid with some specialized doctors which can help the user mentally and some doctors may also direct the user in going to support groups which can also help the user in thinking that the user is not the only one with this kind of addiction and can relate to one another with the problems that has occurred and many other related problems to each of them and they can help each other in this, they can also make new friends while in the group. There can also be online support groups that may help and other additional information in regard to the addiction but this may lead the addict in straying away from the treatment and lead the addict back into the addiction, it may not help in doing so.